Automatic producing valve



Dec. 27, 1932.

B H. AYERS AUTOMATIC PRODUCING VALVE Filed Oct. 29, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invntor R e/ward /f (76/0? By fl f1 llorney Dec. 27, 1932. ia 1,392,455

AUTOMATIC PRODUCING VALVE Filed Oct. 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor @srnamz H 05mm Patented Dec. 27, 1932 BERNARD H. AYERS, OF NOBE, WEST VIRGINIA AUTOMATIC PRODUCING VALVE Application filed October 29, 1932. Serial No. 640,225.

My invention relates generally to well handling apparatus, and particularly to an automatic producing valve for releasing l1quid from a well, while retaining the gas there- 1n.

. It is an important object of my invention to provide a producing valve of this kind which is more eilicient and reliable in operation, and wherein the valve opening and closing means is more, completely controlled so as to condition the operation of the valve at proper intervals.

It is also an important object of my invention to provide improvements over the structure disclosed in Patent No. 1,881,163 issued to me on October 4, 1932. i

- It is also an important object of my invention to provide an automatic producmg valve of the type described which is stronger and subject to less vibration in the well casing, and which is more deliberate in valve opening and closing functions.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a general side elevational view of the embodiment.

Figure 2 is avertioal transverse sectional view through the lower portion thereof.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sect onal view taken through the lower part of Figure 1 approximately on the line 4-4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view through one of the guide members dis closing its relation to the tube.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the same, the numeral 5 generally desig 'nates the valve body into the upper end of which is screw-threaded the tubing 6.

The valve body 5 as seen in Figure 2 corn prises a vertical tubular open-ended casing semi-circular sections 27, 28 which are adapt- 7 which is interiorly threaded as indicated at 8 in its upper end for receiving the lower end'of the tubing 6. A short distance below the lower end of the threaded portion 8 the interior of the casing is provided with an 55 annular shoulder 9 producing a restricted opening 10. The lower part of the annular shoulder 9 is outwardly tapered as indicated at 11. At circumferentially spaced points in the lower part of the shoulder 9 there is provided a series of openings 12 through the casing 7. The'beveled walls 11 thus produced constitute a seat for the conical upper end 14 of the valve generally designated 13. The valve 13 is generally cylindrical and elongated in form and is of a diameter smaller than the interior diameter of the casing 7 so as to have a relatively free sliding movement in the casing and permit a certain amount of fluid to pass between the casing and the valve. Extending from the lower end of the valve 13 is a reduced portion 15 the lower end of which is bifurcated to provide arms 16 between which is supported a pin 17 on which is connected in slidable and pivoted manner the lower end of each of a pair of links 18, 19, which receive the pin 17 in longitudinally .elongated slots 20. The links 18, 19 are pivoted as indicated at 20 and 21, respectively, on pins which are placed across slots 23 which lead from the lower end of the casing 7 through diametrically opposite points as shown. It is obvious that. the valve 13 will be in the closed position when its conical upper end 14 is seated against the beveled wall 11 and in the opening 10 in the upper part of the casing 7.

For operating the links 18, 19 for closing and opening the valve 13, I provide operating rods 24, 25 which are located on diametrically opposite sides of the valve body 5 and of the tubing 6 in spaced relation thereto. Guide members generally designated 26 of the type illustrated. in Figure 3, are clamped at vertically'spaced intervals 95 and above the valve body 5 about the tubmg 6.-

Each of the guides 26 comprises a pair of ed to be bolted as indicated at 29 upon the 00 tubing 6, The guides have openings to provide for the free passage of the fluid and gas in the Well casing. The openings 30 define radial arms 31, '32 which are provided with openings' 33, 34 which slidably receive the operating rods 24, 25, respectively.

The operating rods 24, 25 are provided adj acent the upper ends thereof, but below the upper guide 26, with stops 35, 36 which are adapted to be engaged by a main float 37 for opening the valve 13. he form of the main float 37 is illustrated in Figure 5 wherein is shown the auxiliary float, the form ofthe'niain and of the auxiliary float being identical, except that the main float 37 is larger. Each of the floats comprises a fluid-tight hollow body 38 which surrounds the tubing 6 in a slidablemanner and is provided with vertical openings 39 radially outward of the central tubing receiv ing opening 40, which openings 39 slidably receive the'valve operating rods 24, 25.

Lower stops 41, 42 are secured on the operis disposed on the operating rods below the lower stops 41, 42. Spaced below the lower.

stops 41, 42 is another pair of stops 44, 45,

located on the operating rods above the 'lower guide 26a, and below the auxiliary float 43.

While the main float 37 is satisfactorily operable under certain conditions for raising and lowering the operating rods 24, 25 for opening and closing the valve 13, it will be observed that the weight of the operating rods 24,- 25 is suchthat they will fall and partially or completely close the valve 13 whenever the main float 37 becomes depressed below the upper stops 35,36, when the liquid in the well casing goes down. T his resultsin a premature closing of the valve 13 since the valve 13 is closed under these circumstances long before the main float 37 has had a chance to reach the lower stops 41, 42, consequent upon alowering' of the level of the liquid in the casing, and in that" way frustrates to a considerable extent the purpose for which devices of this kind are intended.

For carrying the weight of the operating rods 24, 25 until the level of the liquid in the well casing has become lowered to a oint where the main float will strike the ower stops 41, 42 and operate the valve closed, I provide the auxiliary-float43 the position and construction of which has already been described. By means ofthe auxiliary float 43 the operating rods 24 and 25 are maintained in the valve opening elevated position, supposing that'the level of the liquid 11111118 well casing is also elevated, until the main float 37 is permitted to move downwardly on the rods 24, 25 as the level of the liquid becomes lowered, to a position in engagement with the lower stops 41-, 42, when the weight of the main float 37 will overcome gradually the buoyancy of the auxiliary float 43 and depress the rods 24, 25 and thus gradually close the valve 13. Of course, when the liquid level becomes lowered below the auxiliary float 43 so as to remove the buoyant character thereof, it will fall on the rods 24, '25 into a position engaged with the lowermost stops 44, 45, whereby to maintain the valve 13 closed. Upon the liquids rising again, the auxiliary float 43 will be carried upwardly into engagement with the lower stops 41, 42'so as to have a tendency to lift the operating rods 24, 25. Ordinarily, the auxiliary float 43 will be provided of a size such that the auxiliary float is incapable of lifting the operating rods 24, 25, without help from the main float 37,-so that until the main float 37 reaches a position in engagement with the upper stops 35, 36, the valve operating rods will not be lifted to open the valve 13.

Animportant feature of my invention is the provision of the guides 26, 26a of equal size and radially extended beyond the floats 37, 43. The valve body 5 whose 'cross sect on is to be seen in Figure 4 is generally elliptical and its greatest width approximately equal to a diameter of the guides, so that there is provided a construction 111 which the device of the invention is equally supported at different vertical points in concentric relation to the interior of the well casing, so as to avoid fluttering and vibration of the device in the well casing. This eliminates bumping of the device against the well casing together with the damages usually consequent thereupon. This also contributes to the smooth action of the device and insures freedom to act, for the floats.-

As seen in Figure 4, vertical openings 46, 47 are provided in the opposite end sides of the lateral extension 48, 49 of the valve body 5 to receive and protect the lower end portion of the valve operating rods 24, 25. It will also be observed that the construction of the device is such that there are no offsets or expanded portions, nor any unprotected parts such as existed in the. structure patented tome in Letters Patent No. 1,881.163

rangement of parts, within the spirit of the invention'and the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is 1. A device of the character described com-' prising a valve body having-an opening traversing the same, a restricted portlon 1n the opening constituting a valve seat, a valve operable in the opening and adapted to be engaged with or withdrawn from the valve seat, a tubing connected to the valve body in communication with the opening therein, longitudinally movable members supported .on the exterior of the tubing, means connecting the said means and the valve, float means movable relative to the tubing and the said means, upper stops on the said means engageable by the float means for lifting the said-means andwithdrawing the valve from engagement with the seat, lower stops engageable by the float means for depressing the said means for moving theva lve into engagement with the seat, and auxiliary float means engageable with the lower stops for carrying the weight downward of the said operating means for preventing downward movement of thesaid operating means when the float means is depressed below the upper stops, until the float means reaches and engages the lower stops.

2. A device of-the character described comprising a valve body having an opening traversing the same, a restricted portion in the opening co'nstitutinga valve seat, 'avalve op erable in the opening and adapted to be engaged with or, withdrawn from the valve seat,

a tubing connected to the valve body in communication with the opening therein, longi tudinally movable members supported on the exterior of thetubing, means connecting the said means and the. valve, float means movable relative to'the tubing and the said means,

. upper stops on the said means engageable by the float means for lifting the. said means and withdrawing the valve from engagement with the seat, lower stops engageable by the float means for depressing the said'means for moving the valveinto engagement with the .seat, and auxiliary float means engageable prising a valve bodyhaving an opening traversing the same, a restricted portion in the opening constituting a valve seat, avalve opierable in the opening and adapted to be engaged with or withdrawn fromthe valve seat, a tubing connected to the valve body in communication with the openlng therein, longitudinally movable members supported on the exterior of the tubing, means connecting the said means and the valve, float means movable relative to the tubing and the said means, upper stops on the said means engageable by the float means for lifting the said meansand withdrawing the valve from engagement with the seat, lower stops engageable by the float means for depressing the said means for moving the valve into en-.

gagement with the seat, and auxiliary float means engageable with the lower stops for carryin the weight of the said operating means For preventing downward movement ofthe said operating means when the float means is depressed below the upper stops, until the float'means reaches and engages the lower stops, and guide means mounted on the tubing for guiding said operating means, said guide means being radially extended beyond the float means and auxiliary float means for protecting the same and permitting free action thereof, and radially extended portions on the valve body whereby the valve body has a maximum diameter substantially equivalent tothe guide means, whereby the device is .maintained'in concentric relationship in a well casing and so supported at vertically spaced points for pre:

. venting vibration of the device in the well casing and protecting the operating means.

- 4. A device ofthe character described comprising a valve body having an opening traversing the same, arestricted portion in the opening constituting a valve seat, a valve operable in the opening and adapted to be engaged with or withdrawn from the, valve seat, a tubing connected to the valve body in ,communication with the opening therein, longitudinally movable members supported on the exterior of the tubing, means connectingthe said means and-the valve, float means movable relative to the'tubing and the said means, upper stops on the said means 'engageable by the float means for lifting the,

said means and withdrawing the valve from engagement with the seat, lower stops en;-

gageable by the float means for depressing the said means formoving the valve into engagement with the seat, and auxiliary float means engageable with the lower stops for .ca-rryin the weight of the said operating means or preventing downward -movement of the said operating means when the float means is depressed below the upper stops,

until the'float means reaches and engages the lower stops, and guide. means mounted on the tubing for guiding said operating means,- said guide means being radially extended beyond the float means and auxiliaryfloatmeans for protecting the same and permitting free action thereof, and radially extended portions on the valve body whereby the valve body has a maximum diameter substantially equivalent to the guide means, whereby the device is maintained in concentric relationship in a well casing and so supported at vertically 5 spaced points for preventing vibration of the device in the well casing and protecting the operating means, said valve body having side openings for receiving and immediately protecting portions of the operating means. In testimony whereof I atfix my si nature.

BERNARD H. A RS. 

